Floater



y 1957 R. E. ALLENBACH 2,800,666

FLOATER Filed Jan. 12, 1956 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Reg f/W/cwac/i Arm/man? July 30, 1957 R. E. ALLENBACH FLOATER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 12, 1956 INV TOR. M 264 Aria/mar) United States PatentO FLOATER Roy E. Allenbach, Pueblo, Colo., assignor to The Pueblo Tent and Awning Co. Inc., Pueblo, Colo., a corporation of Colorado Application January 12, 1956, Serial No. 558,741

1 Claim. (C1. 9 17 This invention relates to a floater, that is, to a device for floating a human being upon a body of water. It is more particularly designed for use by fishermen and hunters, but it is not limited to this-particular use, as it will also be found valuable and useful as a life preserver or as an accessory for water sports.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a highly efficient floater which, when not in use, can be folded or rolled into an exceedingly small package for carrying, and which can be quickly and easily inflated for use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction for floaters of this type which will enable them to be quickly, easily, and economically manufactured from sheets of vinyl plastic, and in which all of the joints will be thermally made so as not to depend upon stitching or cementing.

A still further object is to provide a floater of this character with means for attaching and carrying various equipment, such as a fishing rod, a gun, a net, or a fishing creel, and which will leave the hands and arms of the fisherman free.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efliciency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved floater in the inflated condition;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof in the inflated condition, with the inflated position indicated in broken line; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross-section, taken on the line 3-3, Fig. l.

The improved floater is formed by cutting two similar annular members from sheets of vinyl plastic or other suitable flexible waterproof, air-tight material. The two annular members will be herein designated as the bottom sheet and the top sheet 11. The two sheets are placed flat upon each other and are thermally welded together around their outside edges to form an outer annular thermal joint 12, and around their inside edges to form an inner annular thermal joint 13.

A cylindrical body sleeve 14, also formed of flexible material such as vinyl plastic, is vertically fitted within the ring formed by the two sheets 10 and 11, and is thermally welded to the latter, as shown at in Fig. 3, so as to project above and below the plane of the sheets 10 and 11. The sleeve 14 is provided with attachment rings 22 thermally attached thereto by means of plastic tabs 23. p

The lower annular edge of the body sleeve 14 is turned back upon itself to form an annular lower pocket 16, within which a band 17 of webbing is positioned. The upper edge of the body sleeve 14 is similarly turned back Patented July 30, 1957 to form an upper annular pocket 18 containing a belt 19 of leather, composition, or webbing. The band 17 is continuous throughout the entire circumference of the sleeve 14.

The belt 19, however, terminates at its extremities in suitable buckling devices '20, by means of which the belt can be drawn snugly around the waist of the user and buckled in place thereabout. The sleeve 14 is cut away, as indicated at 21, to provide space for the buckling devices and to provide slack thereon so that the sleeve may be contracted or expanded to suit the waist measure of the user.

Two adjustable crotch straps 24 are attached to the rear portion of the sleeve 14 through the lower band 17. Two strap loops 25 are similarly secured to the forward portion of the band 17 in spaced relation by means of suitable grommets 26. The belt loops 25 terminate in suitable buckling devices 27 for attachment of the extremities of the crotch straps 24.

The upper sheet 11 is provided with suitable strap loops 29 and 30 provided with snap fastening devices 31 and 32, respectively, and with a pocket 33, closed by means of a pocket flap 34, which may be secured closed through the medium of a suitable snap fastener 35. The pocket is also formed of vinyl plastic and is thermally attached to the upper sheet 11. The upper sheet 11 is provided with a suitable inflation valve 28 by means of which air may be forced into the annular space between the sheets 10 and 11.

For fishing and hunting purposes the floater is usually worn with a pair of breast-high waders. In use, the fisherman with his waders in place steps through the floater, drawing the latter upwardly about his waist, with the straps 24 extending through the crotch between the legs, and secures the belt 19 in place around his waist. The webbing band 17 holds the lower skirt of the sleeve snugly around'the Waders and the latter keep the lower portion of the users body dry. Since the floater will support the upper portion of the users body above the surface of the water, the latter portion will also remain dry, so that the fisherman may float freely on the surface of the water without damage to the clothing.

He can secure his fishing rod in place through the medium of the strap loops 29 and 30. He can secure his fishing creel to one of the rings 22, and his net to the other ring 22, thereby being fully equipped for comfortable floating fishing. By swinging his legs, he may propel the floater where desired. The propelling may be assisted by suitable swim fins attached to the feet if desired.

The annular inflated floater surrounding the fisherman acts as a wave break to prevent splashing, and the device is of such diameter, usually 44 inches, that it cannot be tipped by the movements of the fisherman.

In Fig. 3, the thickness of the material has been magnified for the purposes of illustration. Actually, the preferred material is vinyl plastic sheeting having a thickness of .020 inch, so that it may be readily folded or rolled, when deflated, into an exceedingly small package. When in use the extreme flexibility of the material allows it to flex and freely move with the movements of the fisherman and with the movements of the water, so as to create a cushioning, pillow-like effect.

Due to the extreme flexibility and lightness of the vinyl plastic, the total weight being only five pounds, the floater can be quickly and easily inflated by mouth. Inflated to a pressure of 16 02., the floater will support a 240 lb. man, with arms and hands free for shotting or fishing, and with a water displacement of only 3 inches.

Whilea specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claim, without departing from the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

A floater comprising: an annular bottom sheet of flexible material; a similar annular top sheet of flexible material; an annular, thermally formed, outer peripheral joint joining the two sheets about their outercircumferences; a similar annular, thermally formed inner joint securing the two sheets together around their inner circumferences; a cylindrical body sleeve extendingvertically through said joined sheets, said top and bottom sheets being secured to saidbody sleeve completely around the latter and intermediate the upper and lower extremities of the latter; means for admitting air to the space between the outer and inner joints of said top and bottom sheets; an annular pocket formed around the lower edge of said body sleeve; a resilient flexible band contained within spirit of the said pocket and acting to constrict said lower edge; crotch straps secured to the body sleeve through said lower annular pocket and through said flexible band; an upper annular pocket formed around the upper edge of said body sleeve; a belt contained within said upper pocket; and buckling means for buckling the extremities of said belt together, said upper pocket being cut away to expose said buckling means.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,824,711 De Noya Sept. 22, 1931 2,327,169 Bucknell Aug. 17, 1943 2,366,303 White Jan. 2, 1945 2,529,961 Phillips Nov. 14, 1950 2,674,753 Wood Apr. 13, 1954 

